Industry Tips | Across Town Movers

24Aug

5 Industry Moving & Packing Tips

The big day is quickly approaching and the family is just now feeling the moving jitters. The excitement of moving to a new house can easily be overshadowed by the daunting task of actually getting yourself and all of your belongings across town. It does not have to be a stressful experience if done properly. With a few industry moving and packing tips, you will be amazed at how swift a move can be. From purging the junk to packing boxes in just the right way, there are strategies that will transform your move from a potential disaster into an efficient system. Here are five must-do tips to move you in the right direction:

Garage Sale: The most important step that needs to be done in advance is the big purge of all those things collecting dust. The trick to the process is to go into each room and closet and take a quick inventory of everything you own. You will be surprised by how much you actually have been hording for all these years. This should motivate you to start chucking items into a few big garage sale boxes; maybe even some sentimental items. While you should hang onto those photos and yearbooks, things like an old baseball bat, your favorite jeans that won’t ever fit again, or the VHS collection are all prime items for a yard sale. Clean the closets out well and do not take any clothes you haven’t worn in the past couple years. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, “Do I love it?” and “Do I use it?” – if both answers are no, you know what to do. It may be hard at first to say good bye, but you will feel ten times lighter. Have your garage sale six weeks before the move to get off on the right foot and get a better idea of what you have left to pack up.
Room-by-Room Packing: A common mistake people make when packing up a home is that they tend to organize boxes by type of contents instead of by the room the items belong to. If you plan on having a similar setup in your new home, it will save a lot of time and energy if you can pack up one room and easily unpack it into one room without having to search through all the boxes. Don’t be tempted to fill a kitchen box with the living room or closet stuff because there is extra space, it will just add unnecessary confusion once you move in and unpack.
Necessities List: The basics required for daily life should NOT be packed into boxes. Once boxes are packed, taped, loaded, and in transit, you won’t be able to access anything in them. Realizing that in advance can help you prepare a list of necessities that you know not to pack. Pay attention to what you use daily for a couple weeks prior to the moving day and jot down everything on a list. When the time comes to brush your teeth on moving day, you will be happy that both the toothpaste and your toothbrush are still around. Think of how important it is to leave behind some extra toilet paper; don’t forget to leave it out. Basic kitchen items, toiletries, 2-3 days worth of clothing, and bed linens are common on professional packers’ necessities lists.
Strategic Labeling: Whether you are hiring professional movers or carrying the weight yourself, having a clear labeling system laid out in advance will make the move smooth sailing. There are a few different things you need to label on each box. Color-coded stickers can organize what room the box came from and is going to, numbers could determine the order boxes are loaded onto the truck, and writing “fragile” and “this end up” will help protect valuables and reduce unpacking disasters. Also, label what contents are in the box. For example, “Towels,” or “Kitchen utensils.” (Refer to tip #5.)
Packing a Box: Within the limits of your room-by-room packing strategy, each box should have similar items in them. Clothes all go in one, towels all in another, and those endless piles of shoes in a third. This will help with labeling and easy organizing when unpacking. Also, do not forget that you need to pack the heaviest items on the bottom, and don’t overload boxes. Giant boxes seem great because they can fit a lot, but do not pack a lot of heavy items in them or it will take a fork lift to move around. Light items go in big boxes and the heavy yearbooks go in a small box, saving everyone from a strained back on moving day.

Five Things You Need to Know to Avoid a Moving Scam

Moving intrinsically places you into a vulnerable situation. You’re entrusting almost every one of your worldly possessions into the hands of a stranger; praying that they don’t break your grandmother’s clock and that they don’t scuff up that flat screen. But most importantly, you’re trusting that they won’t take you and your possessions for a financial ride.

Moving scams are easy to operate, and therefore they are fairly rampant in today’s society. Many times moving is a last-minute affair, and in the stress of moving an entire household in one day, warning signs can be overlooked in the hustle and the bustle.

One of the most important pieces of advice to keep in mind when moving is to do a proper amount of planning. Scheduling your movers well in advance of your moving date can allow you to shop around and cause you to pause and reconsider when something about your chosen moving company doesn’t seem quite right.

Keep these tips in mind when planning your move to avoid a potential moving scam:

1. Read reviews, ask for recommendations, and do your homework.

Friends and family are always a great place to start when looking for information about reputable companies. Ask around for suggestions and listen to them recount their experiences. After all, some of the best businesses rely on referrals as their most important means of growth and success.

Check for your moving company’s affiliations and their listing with the Better Business Bureau as well as websites like movingscam.com and the American Moving and Storage Association. Read up on Yelp to see what other customers have said about the service. There are even government run websites like ProtectYourMove.gov and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Check your local California Moving and Storage listings for a more tailored list.

2. Get a real estimate. Or better yet, get two or three.

Many moving companies will estimate your moving project over the phone or through online forms. Look for companies that will come out to your house and spend time cataloging your moving needs.

If you have very large items, breakables or those that need to be disassembled before transit, this can complicate your move. Talk with your movers about how this will affect the final cost of your move and what you can do beforehand to alleviate the extra cost.

Not only should you ask for an estimate from your mover, but you should shop around for prices. Most companies will claim that they have the best prices in the business. But you should always run the numbers for two or three competitive companies and choose which one has the charges and the services that make you feel the most comfortable.

The best scams are those that specialize in eating up unnecessary time. Movers will accidentally take the wrong way, move items slowly, or carry less than they are capable of carrying in order to eat up minutes on the clock, which can quickly burn a hole in your pocketbook.

3. Read the contract carefully

Fine print is nobody’s friend, but it can make the difference between a deal and a disaster. Ask for a copy of the contract in advance of your moving day so that you can read through it beforehand. Look for potential charges that are unlisted, and question any items that seem suspect. Hidden charges can ring up or even double your bill when all is said and done. If you have questions about any part of the contract, don’t make assumptions or infer the implications of any passage. Ask questions and request modifications to any part you don’t agree to. If any anticipated expenses are unlisted, ask that they be included in the contract.

Carefully sort out the coverage of your items during the move. Many moving companies have a general coverage of your items, but do not claim responsibility for items that are highly expensive (such as china, jewelry and antiques) or certain furniture brands that may break easily during transit. If you don’t see coverage for specific items listed, ask about them in advance.

4. Know your rights

It is of utmost importance that you understand your rights when working with moving companies. Many scams are based on the assumption that the victim is not aware of their rights and the mover’s responsibilities. You can find the US Department of Transportation’s list of these rights at www.protectyourmove.gov. Being equipped with the knowledge that movers must give written estimates and that you can request guaranteed pick-up and delivery dates can give you leverage in the event of a dispute.

5. Trust Your Instincts

Sometimes even when everything seems to be in order, something still just doesn’t feel right. If the company is hard to get a hold of, does a lot of hand-waving and offers a “don’t worry” sentiment when you ask for the details, or doesn’t seem to have much in the way of reviews or history…you should most definitely have concern. Scam artists are still artists, and they can build a masterpiece out of making you agree to questionable deals with expertly-honed tactics. Make a list of everything you want to ask your mover before you begin, and don’t settle for less than ticking off each one of the items on your list.

Prepare early and look for a company with a good name and solid reviews. Moving scams are prevalent enough that the government has provided resources for movers. Scam artists can run up your bill, hold your possessions for ransom, or disappear with them altogether. Take heed of the seriousness of the matter and do what you can to protect your pocketbook and your possessions.

With some good planning and a little bit of research, you can sail smoothly through the stress of moving and land at your new home with everything in one piece for an honest price.